| Source: |
Kirschner, J. et al. 2002, Species Plantarum: Flora of the World Part 6-8. [IOPI preferred view]
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| Name: |
Luzula indica Kirschner |
| Nomencl. ref. |
Taxon vol. 50, 1108. 2001. |
| Rank: |
Species |
| Status: |
ACCEPTED |
| Taxonomy (this taxon is included in): |
Familia - Juncaceae
Genus - Luzula DC.
Subgenus - Luzula subgen. Luzula DC.
Sectio - Luzula sect. Luzula
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| Description: |
Perennials, 12–35 (–50) cm tall, loosely caespitose; rhizome long, ascending; stolons not seen. Basal leaves ±numerous, to 11 (–24) cm long, 3–6 (–7.5) mm wide; cauline leaves 2 (–3), 3–6.5 (–11) cm long, 1.8–3.5 (–5.0) mm wide, with margins ciliate to densely ciliate particularly near the sheath mouth, papillose-serrulate; apex obtuse. Lower bract leaf-like,
c. 2–4.5 cm long, shorter than inflorescence. Inflorescence to 7 cm long, of 1–3 sessile and
4–22 (–33) pedunculate clusters; clusters small, ±ovoid, (3–) 6–8 (–11)-flowered, to 5 mm long and to 7 mm wide; peduncles smooth, with secondary branches almost always present, numerous, often distal (clusters sometimes subcongested on the distal part of primary branches). Bracteoles ±ovate, acuminate, to 1.5 mm long, entirely scarious or castaneous at base. Tepals ±equal or inner ones slightly shorter; outer tepals lanceolate, acuminate and distinctly aristate, 2.5–3.2 mm long; inner tepals acute to subobtuse, aristate-mucronate,
2.2–2.7 mm long, all straw-brown to brown, with broad paler or membranous margins. Stamens 6; anthers 0.4–0.6 (–0.9) mm long, as long as or longer than 0.5–0.6 mm filaments; style 0.4–0.7 (–0.9) mm long; stigmas 1.0–1.5 (–2.5) mm long. Capsule broadly ovoid, ±abruptly narrowed in a short mucro, smooth, pale brown to castaneous, shorter or conspicuously shorter than perianth; capsule segments 1.7–2.0 × c. 1.4 mm long. Seeds ±narrowly ovoid, c. 0.9–1.0 mm long, c. 0.7 mm wide; appendage whitish, to 0.1 mm long, distinctly fibrillate. |
| Geography: |
Endemic to the Nilgiri Hills, the Palni Hills and the Anaimalai Hills in SW India. It is not possible to characterize the species ecologically; no herbarium label data are available, except for the altitude record, about 2250 m. Map 101., 40. INDIA: Nilgheries [the Nilgiri Hills], H.R.Wright s.n. (K); Perrotet 1205 (LD); Anamallays [the Anaimalai Hills], sine coll. (K); Anamallays, Beddorne s.n. (K). |
| Note in illustration: |
Illustration: K.M.Matthew, Fl. Palni Hills 1: plate 759 (1996). |
| Notes: |
A species characterized by loosely caespitose growth, a very short seed appendage (c. 0.1 mm), aristate tepals, common secondary branches in the inflorescence, the capsule much shorter than perianth, and relatively broad basal leaves. This character combination clearly distinguishes L. indica from several European species with a similar appearance of the inflorescence (L. pallescens or L. multiflora s. lat.). In its general habit (excepting a bulbous base) it approaches the Australian L. densiflora of the L. meridionalis group but leaf margins and the length of seed appendages are diagnostic. The species occurs in two disjunct mountain ranges and there is a variation corresponding to this pattern. Plants from the Anaimalai Hills, so far as the material goes, have longer styles and stigmas, and a field study is needed to find whether this difference is constant. |
| SourceHigherTaxon from IOPI: |
Juncaceae |
| Taxon number in Juncaceae SP treatment
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63. |
| TDWG Distribution Code: |
40: IND. |
| Type: | T: India, Tamil Nadu, Udagamandalam, Ooty, 7000 ft, 26 Mar 1870, C.B.Clarke 11286B; holo: W. |
| Distribution table: |
| Asia-Tropical |
Indian Subcontinent |
India |
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